A
water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a
pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in
it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion
of water.

At
the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot
arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with
the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his
house.

Of
course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for
which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of
what it had been made to do.

After
two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the
water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want
to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load
because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back
to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do a lot of this work,
and you don’t get full value from your efforts," the pot said.

The
bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on
your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because
I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your
side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you’ve watered them.

For
two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate
the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be
this beauty to grace the house."

Moral:

Each
of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. But it’s the
cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very
interesting and rewarding.